A fully loaded semi-truck barreling down I-95 can weigh up to 80,000 pounds: one wrong move and lives are changed forever. Truck accidents in Florida are among the deadliest crashes on our roads. At Souder Law, we know the stakes, and we fight back. Our team is relentless in pursuing accountability and securing the maximum compensation you deserve after a devastating truck accident across South Florida and the Treasure Coast.
What Are Truck Accidents?
Every year in Florida, thousands of truck accidents occur, many involving massive 18-wheelers, tractor-trailers, and commercial rigs that dominate our highways. Data shows that truck crashes make up nearly 11% of all Florida traffic accidents and often cause devastating outcomes. With hundreds of fatalities and thousands of serious injuries reported annually, Florida ranks among the top states nationwide for truck-related crashes.
A truck accident occurs when a large commercial vehicle, such as an 18-wheeler, semi-truck, big rig, or delivery truck, collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, or object. Because of their massive size and weight, trucks require far more time to stop and are harder to control than passenger cars. When negligence, mechanical failure, or unsafe driving is involved, the impact can lead to catastrophic injuries, property destruction, and even wrongful death.
Common Causes of Truck Accidents:
- Driver fatigue from long hours behind the wheel
- Distracted driving, such as texting, eating, or using a GPS
- Speeding or reckless driving to meet tight delivery deadlines
- Impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs, or prescription medication
- Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo, which can cause instability
- Mechanical failures like brake malfunctions or tire blowouts
- Inadequate driver training or inexperience in handling large vehicles
- Poor road conditions, weather hazards, or inadequate signage
- Negligent maintenance by trucking companies or third parties
How We Handle Your Truck Accident Claim
When you come to Souder Law after a truck accident, we immediately begin a thorough investigation into the facts of your crash. Our team collects black box data, reviews driver logs, examines maintenance records, and consults accident reconstruction experts to uncover what caused the collision. We also identify every potentially liable party, whether that’s the truck driver, the trucking company, the cargo loaders, or even a manufacturer of defective parts.
At the same time, we build the foundation of your claim by gathering medical records, documenting your injuries, and working with financial experts to calculate current and future losses. We handle all communication with insurance companies so you don’t get pressured into lowball settlements. From start to finish, our mission is to aggressively pursue accountability and maximize the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Damages Available in Truck Accidents
In truck accident cases, identifying all liable parties is critical to ensuring you receive the full scope of compensation you are entitled to under Florida law. Because multiple entities may share responsibility, such as the driver, trucking company, maintenance contractors, or cargo loaders, your recovery depends on identifying all potential liability. This allows us to pursue the maximum financial recovery for the wide-ranging damages these crashes cause.
Once liability is established, several forms of compensation may be available, including:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Reduced quality of life
- Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence
What if I Am Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Under Florida’s modified comparative negligence law, you may still pursue compensation even if you share some responsibility for the truck accident. However, the amount you can recover will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% at fault and your damages total $100,000, you could still recover $80,000. However, if you are more than 50% at fault, you are barred from recovering any damages. This makes it critical to have strong evidence on your side, because insurance companies will try to push as much blame onto you as possible to reduce or deny your payout.
Steps to Take Immediately After a Truck Accident:
- Call 911 and request emergency medical help and police at the scene
- Move to a safe location if possible and prevent further harm
- Check yourself and others for injuries and provide assistance if safe
- Gather driver, vehicle, and insurance details from all parties involved
- Take photos and videos of the crash scene, vehicles, and road conditions
- Collect witness names and contact information for later use
- Seek medical evaluation immediately, even if injuries seem minor
- Avoid admitting fault or making statements to insurance adjusters
- Preserve all medical records, bills, and accident-related documents
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney to protect your rights
Find Out What Your Case is Worth (At No Cost)
Souder Law is relentless in fighting for truck accident victims across Jupiter, Palm Beach County, and all of South Florida. Our team aggressively investigates every detail of your case to pursue maximum compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and future needs. Best of all, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning it costs you nothing unless we win. Contact Souder Law today for a free truck accident case review and discover what your claim may be worth.
